First Look

Eduard from the Czech Republic is easily the most prolific producer of aftermarket details. Period. Their series of photo-etched detail sets have brought additional fidelity to otherwise bland subjects, and have taken even the best-produced models and kicked them up a notch or two with details that cannot be produced with injection-molded plastic.

This release dresses up the already beautiful Hasegawa 1/32 P-47D-25 Bubbletop Thunderbolt kit. While the kit is nice, there are limits to what one can do with detailing in styrene. This detail set allows the AMS modeler to tackle some of those areas with pre-fitted details.

The set starts off with something simple - the butterfly valve over the engine exhaust stacks in the nose. These valves were usually closed in flight to redirect the engine exhaust pressure throught the intricate supercharger system aft of the cockpit, but on the ground, the valves were open. This set also dresses up the exhaust flaps and provides some interior ducts in the supercharger area in the rear fuselage.

Next, the set provides some small details that are difficult to render in styrene, this time in the main wheel wells. The real work is in the cowl as this set provides the pushrod mechanisms for the insides of each cowl flap segment. The set also provides the ignition harness for the engine.

The detail set provides oleo scissors and brake hydraulic lines for the main gear struts, replacement upper main gear and tailwheel doors. The set is rounded out with end caps for the trailing edge wing flaps, and replacement fins for the kit's two iron bombs.

This set will really set off the Hasegawa Thunderbolt kit though this detail set is not for the beginning modeler. You will need to be able to remove the photo-etch parts from their frets (simple once you know how) and then be able to apply these details using cyano adhesives without gluing yourself to the kit parts. It isn't difficult, or else these sets wouldn't be so popular.

You should be able to find this detail set at your local hobby retailer or one of the many online hobby shops. Trust me, this is worth looking for!